Gloucestershire Areas Please

[MrsG2017]

Hi Everyone

We have just moved back from overseas and have decided on the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire/Worcestershire region. We are currently staying in an Air BnB in Upleadon and are now about to start the process of looking for a small property to buy.

I would be really keen to know your impressions of areas to avoid.

We have a five year old son so need to factor that in. Would only be looking for a 2-3 bed home in the region for £300k. Just feeling a bit overwhelmed as to where to start

Thanks everyone

X

If you enjoy the outdoors, the Forest Of Dean is wonderful. Not great if you enjoy spending your weekends in fancy shopping centres but if you want to walk, cycle, canoe or just be in nature, you can't go wrong. Not far from Gloucester, Hereford and Monmouth and easy for commuting with cheaper property prices than the big cities.

There was an article in the press recently about best places to live in the UK. Dursley in Gloucestershire was top of the list so might be a good place to start looking! It's near Stroud.

What kind of things do you like to do as a family? What's important to you? Do you like busy, good connections etc or do you like rural? Neat and tidy or ecclectic? Gloucestershire is hugely varied so by identifying a few key features we can help you narrow it down.

Thank you all.

We love the outdoors (just came back from a walk around upleadon through the public bridleways - so lovely) however I do admit to also loving the city vibe but I am happy to drive to that if needs be. We visited the Quays yesterday and I was in heaven but I don't need that everyday.

A nice park, easy access to walks (happy to drive to them too) a nice pub or two and a friendly safe environment for my little boy. Good primary schools would be a bonus but o have resigned myself to not being to anxious about that otherwise I'll drive myself crazy.

Thanks everyone

S

I think that you need to decide whether you want to live east or west of the Severn. West is definitely more rural and remote, difficult to access. East is less wild but, of course, more expensive.
I know DS is only 5 but I think that you need to at least think about the secondary school position.

I live near the Quays in Gloucester but we're in the process of moving to Tewkesbury.

There's a giant shopping village place opening in Tewkesbury next year (next to the motorway junction) which is going to be like the Quays but even bigger and better (largest in the south west I think?). Bredon is very beautiful with lots of walks, but close to Tewkesbury so could give you the best of both worlds. Tewkesbury also has lots of events - like the big Medieval festival every July and it's quite a pretty town.

Tewkesbury floods so you have to be very careful where you live if you move to Tewkesbury itself. But in the right spot you won't flood and you won't ever get cut off because there's motorway access as well as all the A-roads.

Personally I wouldn't want to live in Dursley, there's some dodgy parts and there's not much there. It also feels like quite a long way from hospitals, shops, good schools. Stroud might be a good interim option. Hilly and lots of good walks around there but has its own cinema, hospital etc and there are some decent schools too.

The Forest of Dean is always popular but it feels quite remote and the traffic to get in and out can be a giant ball ache. Issues with snow, flooding etc tend to affect the Forest more, even if it's just cutting off access because of the roads.

Gloucester itself I wouldn't bother with either. It's getting more and more built-up with traffic issues and there's nothing special about it. The surrounding areas are way nicer.

Cheltenham is probably the best shopping area with lots of boutiques, restaurants etc but it's expensive and I find it crowded. Bishops Cleeve is a lovely area, small village location midway between Cheltenham and Tewkesbury with lots of walks and green spaces. That's a good shout too.

Sorry, bit of a brain dump there haha! I'm actually a Londoner but I moved here 20 years ago and I bloody love the place.

I agree with @ruralwanderer the Forest of Dean is a fantastic place for a family. We moved a fee years ago and have never had a single regret. It feels like you are properly in the countryside but you have easy access to places like Gloucester, Cheltenham, Bristol, Chepstow etc. Its far more accessible than people think and we've had no problems when it's snowed etc and dh managed to commute as normal.

Also the area is really friendly and welcoming as a lot of new families have moved this way in the last 5 years or so so unlike some rural areas it doesn't have that insider culture. Though I wouldn't go too deep in, I'd consider Whitecroft, Yorkley, Parkend, Pillowell maybe Coleford too.

I find Stroud and Dursley rather odd so personally wouldn't choose there. Ross on Wye is also lovely but is harder to get to. Bishops Cleeve is nice but doesn't feel at all like being in the countryside if that is what you are looking for.

I'm in S Worcestershire, BIL1 is out in the forest in a tiny village, BIL2 nr Cheltenham (actually used to live in UpLeadon), FIL in Stroud, so we are spread round that area.
Is there anywhere you will need to be accessing regularly for work? You do have to think about the rivers and to some extent how flooding can change the road network if you'll make regular journeys.
Sounds like a small town might be best for you rather than a village. Have a look at Evesham or Pershore where there is a lot in your budget. Tewkesbury is nice, and the big outlet village will bring a lot to the area

What vibe are you after? What features?
The school systems in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire are slightly different so worth bearing that in mind. At least they are on the part of the border where I live. Also some areas don't have much in the way of a secondary school choice and the grammars take the cream.
I love where I live though.

There is lots of development planned in these areas in the next 20yrs so worth bearing that in mind if you're thinking of proximity to green.

Forest of Dean is amazing - but avoid Cinderford if possible - it's an absolute dump and rough as hell. 300k will get you plenty though. Ross on wye and villages towards Hereford can be lovely but a bit removed from places like Cheltenham and Glos quays.

I'm in Cheltenham, and work at a good secondary school, so that would get my vote..

I'm in Glos but grew up in Herefordshire. I would love to move back and am always checking out the HR9 postcode on rightmove (Ross and surrounding areas).

Forest of Dean is lovely, never lived there but go frequently from here for days out, it's a nice easy run.

For Gloucester itself there are some nice areas; Churchdown, Longlevens, Upton st Leonard's etc. Cheltenham is nice but a little more ££ and like Gloucester has some dodgy areas.

Stroud and Tewkesbury would be my other two picks. Like pp has said be careful of areas prone to flooding in Tewkesbury.

Towards Worcs. Malvern is another option, not sure how far budget would go there though. Or Ledbury.

These are all places I would be happy to raise my young DC in.

We loved in Stroud for 7 years and loved it - the town is really developing with better shops and food. The Saturday farmers market is wonderful. There are some excellent schools and people are very welcoming. It's got a reputation for a hippy vibe - well earnt and in general people are very into their green lifestyles. For 300k you'll get a 2 bed, possibly three but parking is almost always a problem. Stonehouse is a stop along the line and less quirky (more suburban) but it's meant to be good for families. It's also one stop closer to Gloucester on the train and money goes a bit further there.

You could look south of the county towards the Cotswold Water Park - Minety, Cirencester, Oaksey etc but housing stock is limited and money doesn't go as far. Lovely walks (flat!) And the water park is excellent for children as they turn into teens. So much to do. Proximity to Swindon is good (for outlet village).

I love forest of Dean for walking, but have never lived there. A friend lives in Monmouth and i love It there!

I live in Worcestershire and love it here. I love the fact I live in a town but close to rural countryside. Rivers can be prone to flooding in some areas. School system is different to Gloucester area (we have friends there) more grammar schools in Gloucester. We’ve been happy with the high school in our town so didn’t bother us.
lots of lovely villages around Worcestershire but some are ££
really depends what you are looking for. We are a fair distance from the motorway which could be a downside for some commuters etc

I lived in the Forest of Dean for 20 years. As lovely as it is there is only one main route into Gloucester and the traffic is a nightmare during rush hour if there is an accident. Also a lot of the primary schools there are smaller but some have 3 year groups in one class.

Areas outside of Gloucester can be quite nice - Highnam is popular, Twigworth is nice and other villages near to that. I wouldn't say Stroud to be honest - many think of it as a drugs town. Cirencester in the Cotswolds is a nice mix of town and country with very good schools.

Saw this in active. Not Dursley. Honestly. It was very dull growing up although the schools were decent then (or at least the calibre of students was excellent;)). The villages and areas around are pretty but there is nothing to do and as a frequent visitor I don't see that that has changed.

I am also not a fan of Stroud. Again pretty bits, fairly well connected (close to m5 and direct train to London) and some quirky shops with good green creds but quite odd. We used to get our drugs from Stroud....

I'm a fan of South glos (wotton, thornbury) but sounds too far down for you.

When we were looking to move a few years ago we explored the area around Dursley but then discovered the Forest of Dean. We moved to the Forest and love it. Such friendly people, a good primary school in our village, and you get so much more for your money house price wise. Facilities are also great, hairdressers, pubs, village shop and fish and chip shop. On the main bus route into Gloucester too. Cinderford has an undeservedly bad reputation in my opinion - there;s a lovely little cinema, library, a new Tesco and a Lidl supermarket. Also they're in the process of building a new community hospital and the doctors surgery is also fairly new.

If you love the countryside, then the Forest cannot be surpassed anywhere - stunningly beautiful.

Bourton on the Water is within budget, very good school, decent facilities (Co-op) and buses to Cheltenham. Lots of tourists though

Gloucestershire has a grammar school system, so take that into consideration. It creates a mix of very high achieving schools that require a year or two of tutoring to get into and the rest fairy low achieving schools. Saying that, my child is in one of the low achieving school and really loves it as is very nurturing.

Thank you everyone I think we will do some driving about today and start looking at areas. Possibly even rent for the short term in an area we like so that we can get little one settled whilst we get our ducks in a row.

Thank you all for your help - such a daunting exercise with no family or friends around to support you've been a lifeline

Good luck with your search, I'm sure that if you take your time and go on gut feeling you won't go far wrong :)

do some driving about today and start looking at areas
Good idea! It's always useful to see the worst version of an area, in grey Winter rather than beguiling Spring / Summer.

Churchdown is between Cheltenham and Gloucester and has good schools and decent pub.

@bbluebeach there are also very high achieving secondary comps though.